"So you are the new district 23 watcher."
It wasn't a question but more of a statement.
Shen Yu's heart raced, his eyes narrowed. Instantly becoming sharp. "Who are you?"
The man walked leisurely towards him and took the lone chair by his bed. A bouquet of black rose he hadn't noticed before was placed right next to him. Mosit dew clinged to the petals stubbornly and it gave off a faint, pleasant scent.
"I am 23. Your underworld guardian."
Shen Yu eyes twitched. He looked between the man and the flowers and only one thought came to mind.
Huh?
"You are still so young." 23 observed him with a slight frown. He then lean into the chair. "But you could survive the pathway and return with all limbs intact. Not bad."
"You....how do you know? What do you know about the pathway?" Shen Yu immediately straightened his back on hearing his words.
"Haven't you seen it yourself?" 23 crossed both of his arm while explaining lazily. "It is a place where ghosts don't even want to go. A spin off of reality and where all the negative and evil part of you humans reside in. Normally you need a door to pass through."
"Like the door I used when I returned? But I didn't do anything and somehow woke up there." Shen Yu voiced his confusion.
"Ehn....there might be occasional accidents." The underworld guardian shrug. Looking very unreliable in every sense.
"What about the notebook?" Shen Yu suddenly remembered. He quickly fished the small note to show him.
23 took one look at it and then gave a casual reply. "That is your underworld system. It will help you with your task and everything you need to know is there."
A system? Shen Yu was surprised and the thing that immediately came to his mind was the online games he used to play.
The guardian face became serious as he explained. "You are now the distric 23 underworld door watcher, and the district door leading to the pathway is connected to you. Not only are you responsible for keeping the things from the other side from crossing over to wrack havoc, but also to send off the dead that refuse to leave or are somehow bonded to the human world to be reincarnated."
All these information made Shen Yu head spun. "Why me?"
"Uhh...uhh..." His guardian shrugged once more. "But don't worry we have worker benefits; that is health insurance, you also get a monthly salary "
But....Shen Yu was hesitant. The words sound easy but he didn't dare take them lightly. Vanquishing and fighting malicious spirit? This was literally putting his life on the line.
"And also..." 23 sending his hesitation paused slightly, before revealing. "If you can upgrade your door to a black door the underworld will grant you a wish."
"A wish." Shen Yu heart clenched. He pressed down on his turbulent thoughts. "Anything?"
"As far as it doesn't goes against the better good of the world. Anything can be granted. Even if it is bringing someone back from the dead."
He looked at Shen Yu pointedly.
Shen Yu clenched his hand by his side. He could wish for someone to come back to life?
He didn't know what it meant to get a black door. The sound of it alone looked like something that would be greatly difficult.
But even if it was the slimest chance to bring back his mom he would gladly sacrifice his soul for it. "I will do it."
23 saw the determination in his eyes and nodded. People who have something to fight for are the most resilient.
"So how do I upgrade to a black door?" Shen Yu asked. 23 said the door in this distric is his, and if he remembered well the color was rusty brown.
How was he supposed to turn it to black? Is it like the upgrade system in games.
"There are four types of doors and each door has three grades. Brown, maroon, red, blood red and black. The grades depends on the power level of the door keeper. A sleeper, halfwake and fully awake. Regardlessly of the door type a fully awake door is the highest level and the keepers are more troublesome to deal with."
Shen Yu listened attentively, taking down notes in his mind.
"But no one has successfully advanced to a black door, yet." 23 added.
No one. Does that mean there are other door watchers like me? Does every district have one? While Shen Yu was still thinking, 23 suddenly stood up, glancing at the pristine, black wrist watch on his pale wrist.
Saying. "I have to go now." He reached into his pocket and handed Shen Yu two items. "Here. Don't worry. I have a feeling you will do fine."
Shen Yu looked down at the key and black card in his hand. Before he could ask more he realised 23 had already walked out. Leaving just the fleeting view of his back disappearing behind the door. Throwing four words behind.
"See you later watcher."
This.....
Which building is the key for? And the card, is there money in it? What about the pin?
"What am I supposed to do with all these?" There was a lot of things that was still unclear and he needed to know.
The next day the doctor came to check on Shen Yu and announced that he was healing well.
"Doctor when can I be discharged?" Shen Yu asked.
"Your injuries are quite serious and you can't move around too much. Other than that you are fine." The make doctor stated. Then asked. "Still it will be better to stay so we can monitor your health for a few more days. Is there some important you need to attend to?"
"Hmm." Shen Yu nodded, saying righteously. "I want to go to the police station to report a crime."
"Police? Crime?" The doctor hand shook, eyes wide.
It can't be that he actually wasn't trying to commit suicide but someone tried to murder him!! He thought that he had uncovered the real truth.
Meanwhile, Shen Yu was thinking about how to tell the police about the drowning ghost's body in a way that is believable.
He had a feeling it was in that river.
But what would he say? That he met her ghost?